A "Last" look At 2026 Before We Start The Season

[mgteich]

I think that we are in fine shape in 2026 as long Maye continues to improve and stays heallthy

FREE AGENTS
We won't have issues signing the ERFA's or RFA's.
The only UFA's are Chaisson, Gibbens, Hooper, Jones, Lowe and Tonga (a very inexpensive list compared with the past).

VETERANS LIKELY TO MOVE ON
Dugger, freeing up $10M
Onwenu, freeing up $17M (hopefully replaced by Bryant)

CAP SITUATION
start $10m OVER
carry over $35M-$40M
save $25M from moving on from Dugger and Onwenu
add room from the inevitable NFL cap increase per team.

CRITICAL NEED IN FREE AGENCY AND THE DRAFT
a couple of more OL's
deal with the DB situation: Jones (UFA), Austin (RFA), Hawkins (RFA); James is an ERFA with no choices.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I think that we are in fine shape in 2026 as long Maye continues to improve and stays heallthy

FREE AGENTS
We won't have issues signing the ERFA's or RFA's.
The only UFA's are Chaisson, Gibbens, Hooper, Jones, Lowe and Tonga (a very inexpensive list compared with the past).

VETERANS LIKELY TO MOVE ON
Dugger, freeing up $10M
Onwenu, freeing up $17M (hopefully replaced by Bryant)

CAP SITUATION
start $10m OVER
carry over $35M-$40M
save $25M from moving on from Dugger and Onwenu
add room from the inevitable NFL cap increase per team.

CRITICAL NEED IN FREE AGENCY AND THE DRAFT
a couple of more OL's
deal with the DB situation: Jones (UFA), Austin (RFA), Hawkins (RFA); James is an ERFA with no choices.

So u think Bryant moves inside?
I don't know Moses contract details, but I would imagine there's not much guaranteed after year 1?
I don't trust Moses for long based on his age, would be great if Bryant can be the future RT.

 

[n1997y]

So u think Bryant moves inside?
I don't know Moses contract details, but I would imagine there's not much guaranteed after year 1?
I don't trust Moses for long based on his age, would be great if Bryant can be the future RT.

Agree. Although I’ve seen assertions that 2026 draft is deep at RT.

I’m expecting this time next year we will be agonizing over the reshuffled OL yet again.

Let’s just enjoy this year and see how things play out in the future when we get there. Both next game and next season.

 

[stinkypete]

If all goes according to plan, Chaisson will demand a decent payday, but nowhere close to the top of the market.

If the team is smart, Gonzo gets locket up long term before Trent McDuffie resets the market.

Leaves us likely in a position to pick up some strategic reinforcements, but no big splashes.

All the more reason to hold those picks.

 

[signbabybrady]

We have almost 90 mil in 2027 I don't see any problem. Its just odd the way things landed in 2026 but we can just borrow from the future and we're fine.

 

[Triumph]

The Pats are still rebuilding.

 

[mgteich]

So u think Bryant moves inside?
I don't know Moses contract details, but I would imagine there's not much guaranteed after year 1?
I don't trust Moses for long based on his age, would be great if Bryant can be the future RT.

I guess that Bryant can spend another year on the bench as the 3rd OT.

In that case, we will need 2 starters next year to go with Moses, Campbell and Wilson.
==========
I guess the focus will definitely be on LG unless Brown/Bradbury is good enough for another year.

 

[mgteich]

If all goes according to plan, Chaisson will demand a decent payday, but nowhere close to the top of the market.

If the team is smart, Gonzo gets locket up long term before Trent McDuffie resets the market.

Leaves us likely in a position to pick up some strategic reinforcements, but no big splashes.

All the more reason to hold those picks.

Gonzo may be a 5-year player for us.

I'm not sure it is wise to sign an extension before the 2026 season.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Agreed it wont take that much to keep whatever we have together. We should be able to be aggressive again, i would bet alot of the teams that have more cap space than us right now for 2026 have to spend alot more than us on re-signings prior to fa. My list of needs assuming things go well with what we did address:

Wr talent- need to get better here but hard to prioritize this one as great wr’s rarely hit fa and we have never drafted well here. Hopefully in the next couple years we will finally land a big trade.

Edge rusher - gonna need more here too imo, supposedly a good draft next year for edge. Id have this as a heavy draft priority

G or C whatever Wilson isn’t playing next year- this is assuming Wilson does hit. Bradbury has been a disappointment this ps and i don’t see brown or Wallace as answers. They may suprise but id anticipate this being a need next year and possibly depth too. Should be plenty options in fa or a pick.

Lb - shaky after spillane. Would like a playmaker and upgraded depth here unless ellis or gibbens really show out

Rt- another heavy draft priority with moses age and not sure if Bryant has starter potential. But at least we seem to have decent depth here.

Safety - up in the air at best. Need this year to evaluate woodson, pettus, and hawkins in the new d but thinking we’ll need to add someone here.

Plus depth on the interior ol and lb as mentioned above. Maybe a te prospect/upgrade. If we knock it out the park like this years fa and draft it could be doable next year but i think this and whatever setbacks we encounter elsewhere likely take 2 years to be real contenders.

 

[JoeSixPat]

So u think Bryant moves inside?
I don't know Moses contract details, but I would imagine there's not much guaranteed after year 1?
I don't trust Moses for long based on his age, would be great if Bryant can be the future RT.

Campbell is going to have a learning curve this season and there will, unfortunately be sacks

Hopefully he's playing like a veteran by the end of the season but if there's an opportunity to improve the OL, even at LT in the offseason, the front office should be open to it. Campbell might have questions at LT but at LG he could really find his niche should they decide they'd like a Pro-Bowl caliber LT to protect Maye.

We'll see how the season goes but our success starts and ends with the OL and even if it's decent this season, they need to get younger

 

[mgteich]

Campbell is going to have a learning curve this season and there will, unfortunately be sacks

Hopefully he's playing like a veteran by the end of the season but if there's an opportunity to improve the OL, even at LT in the offseason, the front office should be open to it. Campbell might have questions at LT but at LG he could really find his niche should they decide they'd like a Pro-Bowl caliber LT to protect Maye.

We'll see how the season goes but our success starts and ends with the OL and even if it's decent this season, they need to get younger

Yes, if we can a future top LT at a reasonable cost we will sign, or we could draft him.

Given how difficult it is to find such players, I don't expect that to happen. Obviously, or #1 priority will be to add a top LT or LG.

 

[mgteich]

.

. They may suprise but id anticipate this being a need next year and possibly depth too. Should be plenty options in fa or a pick.

.

I do NOT think that there will be plenty of options to fill our starting and backup LG roster spots (presuming that Wilson to center).

There weren't plenty this year or we'd have signed him.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I do NOT think that there will be plenty of options to fill our starting and backup LG roster spots (presuming that Wilson to center).

There weren't plenty this year or we'd have signed him.

We could have had thuney for a 4th rder. We decided not to outbid teams on mekari and one of the centers i believe that we were in on. I think we dabbled at interior ol but we had tons of other needs and i think they ultimately felt between strange , bradbury, and the younger guys it wasn’t worth the huge investment for this year.

Next year the needs are much narrower and they have a better idea on the guys we have , they will no doubt focus on iol if it is still a big need. Its not a cakewalk or anything but filling interior ol is alot easier than getting a qb, wr, ot, cb, etc… im not too worried about having trouble filling it next year whether fa or drafting.

 

[mgteich]

Next year the needs are much narrower and they have a better idea on the guys we have , they will no doubt focus on iol if it is still a big need. Its not a cakewalk or anything but filling interior ol is alot easier than getting a qb, wr, ot, cb, etc… im not too worried about having trouble filling it next year whether fa or drafting.

I suppose that if we are willing to use considerable resources, we will be able to add two top OL's again plus a backup or two.

The only other issue is to make sure that we maintain the strength of the secondary.